I was still in the first song when a chorus broke into some rocky words and Neha Bhasin into Dhunki Dhunki Dhunki laage. While the music is lovely, it’s Neha who surprises me with her lovely singing here. She’s been good in some Salim-Sulaiman songs earlier, in Fashion, as well as Pyaar Impossible, but this could be the song that would restate her entry into Hindi film industry.

The next song Chhoo Mantar is, I would say, a typical Sohail Sen piece, with his signature beats, and if I didn’t know it from the cover, I’d say is sung by him as well. Yes, it’s bad how I still don’t get Benny Dayal’s voice after so many of his songs that I completely love. Aditi Singh Sharma is as soft and husky with her voice here as she always is.

Isq Risk, the next song, sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, gives a little small surprise in the beginning as you hear a radio (read AIR) style prologue to the song, telling whose music and words the song has. Sohail Sen’s melody is a bit ’90s in its treatment, but with Rahat singing, the song sounds pretty nice. Irshad Kamil’s words are lovely here.

Ali Zafar’s only entry in the soundtrack, Madhubala is simply enjoyable. I don’t think I want to use any other word for the song. It’s his signature ‘Masti’ that literally shows up here, nicely supported by Shweta Pandit.

Shahid Mallya, another name that is a bit new for me, is growing up quite fast nowadays. After Naina wali Whiskey in Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bande and with Mausam lined up for him, it’s the third place I have seen his name in this week, for Do Dhaari Talwar here. The song, with a little Punjabi flavor in it, mostly because of Shahid’s singing style and percussion based arrangements, is quite fast paced and enjoyable, though doesn’t look like very long lasting.

Overall, MBKD is a typical Yashraj album with songs that will be liked instantly by the public. Be it the title song or Dhunki, Isq risk or Madhubala, the composer is quite clear on what he wants the song to do and I feel that it would be a big plus for the movie. Go buy it if you like typical hit soundtracks of Bollywood.

PS: One interesting thing about the album is that even though Yashraj use a new composer here, many of the singers are the ones who have sung a lot for YRF, with their regular composers Salim-Sulaiman, especially Benny Dayal, Neha Bhasin and Shweta Pandit.

Well, after the small surprise on the cover, I was in for another surprise as I heard the first song, dil jhoom jhoom chale soneya, or simply Jhoom. The song is a Sufi style one, quite different from the songs Ali is known for. And while the song relies less on Western instruments and more on Tabla etc, Ali’s heavy voice (remember teri yaad aayi and jugnuon se bhar le aanchal) makes the song a bit heavy, but good nonetheless. One expects the song to be liked in time as one listens to it.

The second song ‘Tu jaanay na‘ is a lighter one, which Ali sings in that easy going style he has been most popular for. The way instruments in the background are not kept limited to background only, it reminds one of older songs of the industry. Easy on ears, and quite lovable.

The next, ‘Jab say dekha tujhko‘ clears from the very start that besides singing, Ali Zafar is here to show off his versatility, as he starts singing in that slightly intoxicated voice and goes on to sing high like Atif. In fact after listening to the song a few times I was wondering if I have heard anyone other than Sonu Nigam trying such versatile things in recent past. Maybe I have, but he is good for sure.

Jee dhoondhta hai phir wahi, fursat ke raat din. Well, Ali comes up with a new version of the popular Mausam song, but as the song started, somehow neither the settings nor his singing suited my ears. No big deal if I’m biased about this song, though. Still, the way he started the antaras, I liked them. So at the end, it’s just the way he sings the words of Mukhda that I don’t like. Besides, I think only the mukhda has the original words.

Koi Ummeed bar nahi aati, koi soorat nazar nahi aati. It seems that the King of pop, quite understandably, has a huge effect of the ’70s and before that on his tastes. While he seems to have a touch of Kishore Kumar here, his way of singing ghazals is lovely too. I’ve not heard this particular ghazal of Ghalib earlier but somehow I feel that Ali has done justice to the words of the ghazal. At the same time, the background is not too old to repel youngsters, and not too hip to reduce the effect of the words. Complete like.

In Jaan-e-man, while Ali still sings well, the song almost without a background music sounds kinda sleepy while Ali isn’t singing. Listen to this one only if you are into words and can bear with slow music.

The next song on the list is a well known Nahi ray Nahi, the song he has been so popular for at Coke Studio. For the uninitiated, the song is something like a slower version of certain parts of Sun ri sajaniya, with some better words and better singing too.

With the next song, Ali goes on to sing another song he did at Coke Studio, folk number yaar daadhi ishq aatish. While I still think I’d prefer the original version (the one by Juman Khan) anyday, this one is definitely not bad. And I guess that sums it up for the song.

The next, Daastan-e-ishq, another pick from Coke Studio, is well mixed but in many places the music seems to suppress the vocals, which makes the things not so good. Else, the song is definitely one to dance on here too.

The last song, Allah hu, is definitely something to listen to. The song starts usually, but as it moves ahead, a building up takes place and at some point the song and the listener almost reach a trance stage. A beautiful piece of jamming it is. And I think this trance that the jamming creates here is the main purpose of the song. Well done.

The last two tracks are remixes and the first among them is an R&B version of Jhoom, which was a Sufi song as the first track. Now while the R&B starts beautifully and the dil jhoom jhoom chale part goes just perfectly, some of the parts seem a bit too Sufi styled to make them R&B. Still, overall a likable arrangement and song.

The final song of the album Dastan-e-ishq (Dhol Version), sung by Aftab Khan with Ali, isn’t too great, but this one has open vocals that go hand-in-hand with the music. So this version has its own advantages.

Overall, Jhoom is a huge album which is difficult to rate in one sentence, so I’ll divide my verdict into two parts for ease. The first half of the album has some new, wonderful songs, and some good variety poured in by the singer. At the same time, the second half is not everyone’s cup of tea. While most songs in second half are well established, heard and respected over the years, not everyone may like them in their present style. Still, I expect that most people in the present generation would like them. And if you still have doubts, just go to Youtube and check a few of Ali Zafar’s Coke Studio videos. You’ll know whether it’s for you or not.

You can buy the album HERE.

The album starts with a rock-ish title song sung by another newcomer called Rohit Sarkar. The song has a punch feel attached to it and Swanand Kirkire’s lyrics quite help that. Nothing great but the song certainly sounds good as a background in the promos. I think good promotion will make the song popular for at least some time, till the release or so.

The second song of the album is Mohit Chauhan’s Mann Lafanga, which is definitely the high point of the album. Anandh goes on to give Mohit a good tune and his singing has all the necessary and regular effects. In short, the song sounds as good as any running song of Mohit Chauhan. Also, the tune has an oldie feeling to it or maybe it resembles some old song vaguely. Whatever it be, the song sounds good and that is what matters. Go for it.

The next song is Dhatad tatad sung by Monty Sharma’s Saanwariya guy Shail Hada along with Anushka Manchanda. The song has almost no quality, except that it’s chipku. Dhatad Tatad may sound like a tongue twister but actually the term is a tongue sticking one as the music is too simple and repetitive. Also, the music seems vaguely similar to some Amitabh Bachchan movie or maybe some ’90s song. (tumsa koi pyara koi maasoom nahi hai, is it??) Oh yes, in some corners, even this song has good lyrics.

The next in the album comes Nain Parindey sung by Shilpa Rao. This one is a soulful, slow song and Shilpa sounds perfect there. Swanand Kirkire and Shilpa Rao’s big names get Anandh’s equal support in the music department and the result comes out really good even if not great. Another piece of Top quality after Mann Lafangaa.

Rang Daalein is the next song of the album and this time Rock star Suraj Jagan comes up behind the microphone, in his full Rock mode. The song is almost a full fledged rock one, at least in terms of singing while Anandh seems to be in a mood to experiment as he goes out of and then back into rock mode, especially in interludes. The song, like many more good ones, doesn’t sound too good in the start and sounds a bit noisy too but once you grow into the song, you may like it, or even love it. Just do go for it if you are into that new genre in the making — Bollywood Rock.

At the end comes an instrumental, Born to Fly. The instrumental starts well I kinda liked the first half but then the second half gets all background score cum medley. Near the end it the tune starts getting into climax which sounds okay. The last ‘Lafangey Parindey’ probably said by Rohit Sarkar sounds not-too-bad.

O yes, there is a Remix of Mann Lafanga by Joshilay. Not bad, okay.

Overall, Lafangey Parindey tries to get into rock a bit while trying to maintain a balance by keeping two very typical songs (from Mohit and Shilpa), but end of the day the balancing thing doesn’t seem to succeed completely as both the types seem like parts of separate albums. Still, most of the songs are at least above average (except the sticking dhatad tatad) and as a re-debutant, R Anandh does a pretty good job.

In short, I can say, ye saaf kabhi ye gande, lafange parinde..

The second song is Mohit Chauhan’s Jingle Jingle which is not so great on its lyrics but the music of the song is good, with some typical Mohit Chauhan parts, some catchy chorus and some rap. Overall, a likeable number again.

Chaska, sung by Krishna, comes next in the album. The song is kinda catchy again and can be used well as a dance number. Krishna sings in quite an open voice in the song and finds himself quite at ease with the Punjabi style song. Not bad.

Faqeera, sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, is again, surprisingly, a fast paced song; not so typical of Rahat. Pritam looks like in a mood to experiment a bit as you find Rahat singing some wonderful alaap in the racy-rocky song. Worth listening to, though I am not very positive about the shelf-life of the song.

Badmaash Company, the title song of the movie is sung by Benny Dayal, which starts well and has some tongue sticking parts too, but gets boring after sometime. The song reminds me of of Pocket mein Rocket, probably because of Benny and similar type but I’d say pocket mein rocket was better than Badmaash Company.

The album also has two remixes like most Yashraj albums, but nothing special in them.

Overall, Badmaash Company is good if you talk about short term but doesn’t offer much for longer run. Almost all the songs of the album are average to above average and neither sounds bad though Pritam doesn’t give anything close to APKGK/LAK for now.

The movie starts in college, with Uday Chopra looking retarded (and at the same time geeky) enough to remind me of Auro of Paa. But then, his look changes, he becomes a man, but his heart remains that of a little boy. Just like his father Anupam Kher, or so Anupam claims. Uday plays a super-intelligent-idiot who does things that make you think so many times how someone can be THAT idiot. But then, that is what makes Uday’s character too. His chemistry (or entire science) with Anupam Kher is amusing in their first few minutes together.

The movie has some wonderful sequences and at times it may keep one hooked, but going with love and computers together is not an easy job and while balancing the two, the story fails to show the seriousness the computer demands. The end of the movie is probably its worst part and things happen way too simply to be believed in the end which makes the movie a mere OKAY from a possible good.

Pyaar Impossible has a small cast with just Uday, Priyanka Chopra, Anupam Kher, Dino Morea and Tanya’s character in the main roles. Uday is good, and so is Priyanka, but while I expected the movie to revolve around Priyanka’s character going by the songs and promos, the movie is all about Abhay Sharma, the character played by Uday. Anupam Kher is a natural, while Dino Morea is much more than a special appearance and he has played his character quite well too. The little girl is good though I do not want to think whether she could be six or not as told in the story.

Songs are another surprising element in the movie. While I expected the movie to be an almost full-fledged musical with five such beautiful songs, it hardly is a musical. Except the first song, Alisha, almost everything fits in the story while one song fits the story of the movie in itself. I loved the way songs are pictured. Especially the title song, Pyaar Impossible.

I guess the story that it was, it might have been better handled by a hardcore director like Shimit Amin, but there are points where Jugal does it well too. In fact, talking of direction, there are instances in the movie where I expected Jugal to fall for some typical YashRaj ways that defy common sense (like suddenly recalling things that you didn’t notice for seven years) but he chose logic over drama. I would praise him for that. Also, one more good thing about Uday’s story is that it’s not a bunch of coincidences. There is only one major coincidence that you can guess in the very start of the movie as the movie is not possible without that.

Overall, Pyaar Impossible is a movie that could be good but ends up being just good in parts and finally just okay; majorly because of its end. The movie is a one time watch but you would be disappointed if you have big expectations from the movie. My advice, unless you’ve been waiting for it, watch it on a DVD. That way you’ll surely get the value for your money.

Rocket Singh is not a typical Yash Raj product. It’s real time, not larger than life, and it has small people. The way Rocket Singh says in the advertisement, 37 percent, with grace marks. So do not expect a Shahrukh Khan who spreads his hands and the world falls between them. Rocket Singh is not about Spiderman, it’s about a salesman.

Ranbir Kapoor. Ranbir Kapoor. Ranbir Kapoor. Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year belongs to Ranbir Kapoor. From start till the end, he runs the movie on his shoulders. Not that others aren’t good, but then, he is THE hero of the movie and the parts where the movie gets a bit slow and maybe boring is the few minutes where Ranbir doesn’t come on screen. Hence, the name, Rocket Singh.

Let me start with opening credits. Because that is where they start the movie, with a grandfather and grandson. We do not need parents for the story, so their story does not exist. Welcome to the graduation party, the end of college. Fast and furious. And enter the real world. Might sound like Wake Up Sid, but this Sid is already up. He knows he’s 37% and has to become a salesman. But then, honesty comes in the way. And so comes the learning. The hard way, of course. That makes the story of Rocket Singh, oops, Harpreet Singh Bedi. HP.

The good part of the movie, other than Ranbir Kapoor is that the small world of sales and salesmen has been shown really well. Though the bad part, for the business, is that the world of sales may be too small for some viewers to like. Also, the movie has almost no heroine, and just one female in a strong role, which unfortunately is more or less the reality of our businesses. In fact, I was wondering if the picture of Indra Nooyi on a paper rocket on Ranbir’s scooter was just a coincidence. Probably not. No wonder if some ladies like the movie less.

More good about the movie is cinematography and Salim-Sulaiman’s background score. Ranbir makes a superb Sardar and looks as good as he acts. Music of the film is fine. But while Pocket mein Rocket is not there in the movie, the other two songs have not been in the market for long enough time and hence don’t have the desired effect. Guess Shimit Amin is not that interested about selling the music, but the movie, which runs on the background music even in absence of songs.

Actors, other than Ranbir Kapoor too, are fine and fit in their roles. The cast is really small and roles to-the-point. Prem Chopra looks good as a good grandpa. Gauhar Khan is unbelievable. Not that she has done something huge but she’s more than just an item girl here. Giri’s character is interesting though it makes (computer) engineers look like born-frustrated. Boss is good except for his highly stylized mustaches, hardly matters that one.

Jaideep Sahni has done a great job with story, screenplay and dialog. The movie is engrossing and at least I was in the movie for all the time. Only the end seems a bit slow.

Overall, Rocket Singh is a wonderful movie made on an ‘average’ guy. As long as you like stories around common people, you’ll like it, probably love it. The movie gives space to detail, though only where it’s needed for the story. And the best part, whatever has been shown, has been shown properly. If you don’t like the movie, it would probably be because of what has not been shown. Songs, a ‘proper’ heroine, a relationship, anything. Highly recommended for those who like to be to-the-point in the cut-throat race of world.

Yes, Mudassar Aziz’s Dulha Mil Gaya is finally slated for a release on 8th January 2010 and YashRaj’s Pyaar Impossible which is directed by Jugal Hansraj and stars Uday Chopra and Priyanka Chopra seems all set to release on the same date. In fact one song of the movie is already out and my guess is that now it will release on the second Friday of January only.

So while both movies are slated for a same day release, there is an unlikely question coming up. Can Uday Chopra beat SRK this time? The answer would have been a big NO on any given day, but the way Dulha Mil Gaya is going on till date and the way Priyanka is looking at her best again (after Dostana that is), there are chances that Uday’s Pyaar Impossible gives a tough time to so-called King Khan’s Dulha Mil Gaya. Never mind the difference of Uday and SRK.

Though there are chances that Dulha Mil Gaya which has already been postponed from a previously set December release, moves further ahead giving room to PI. But in case it doesn’t, the show will be interesting. Talking in exact terms, it will be worth watching whether a big gun producer with a small hero works better on Box Office or a small producer with a big gun hero.

If you ask me, my bets are somehow on the small hero this time. For once, Uday is looking like an actor. Hope he doesn’t disappoint me.

Pyaar Impossible’s 10 on 10 video is out there in the market. The song is sung by Anushka quite well, while the male singer for the song, providing voice for Uday Chopra, is Naresh Kamath who is relatively new. And though the song is not a 10 on 10, since Anvita Dutt Guptan’s lyrics are easy and Salim-Sulaiman’s music is a bit catchy here, it will only need some good promotion by YashRaj to be a hit, and YRF will be most certainly providing that.

So here is the song. Check it out.

Singers: Anushka Manchanda, Salim Merchant

Lyrics: Anvita Dutta Guptan

Salim Sulaiman are now the official composers for YashRaj Films. Well, for most of their movies, their BIG projects. And the new name in the list is Pyaar Impossible. The first promo of the movie is out and you can listen to a two and half minute clip of  ’Alisha.’ Heard the song just once and loving it. Hope you like it too. The official YRF channel’s video is here:

Here are the lyrics of the song.

Boy
Hey boy you are the hunk with the trunk
Backing in the funny loaded funky junk
Hey boy with the benny snub eyes*
You tell me sinful beautiful lies
I’ve been looking for a boy
Jisse dekh ke din se kaali raat ho
I’ve been looking for a boy
Jiski baaton mein sirf meri baat ho
Koi aisa ho koi waisa ho
Kisi ek mein ho baat phir kahan
O baby sach to hai main kahan tu kahan
Alisha, jab se tujhko hai jaana
Dil ne kaha na maana
Sach to hai tu kahan main kahan
Alisha, jab se tujhko hai jaana
Dil ne kaha na maana
Sach to hai tu kahan main kahan

o o o, oho

Pyaar impossible impossible impossible hai pyaar

Hey boy
Hey boy me an easy girl to date
Just wanna miss the right from you honeys
Hey boy me an easy girl to please
Just wanna miss the right from you honeys
Mere sapno mein ek aisa haseen
Dekh ke usko kabhi ho na yakeen
Uski to har ada mujhse bhi haseen
Dil kehta hai ke woh hai yahin kahin
Koi aisa ho koi waisa ho
Kisi ek mein ho baat phir kahan
O baby sach to hai main kahan tu kahan
Alisha, jab se tujhko hai jaana
Dil ne kaha na maana
Sach to hai tu kahan main kahan
Alisha, jab se tujhko hai jaana
Dil ne kaha na maana
Sach to hai main kahan tu kahan

o o o, oho
Pyaar impossible impossible impossible hai pyaar

Alisha, jab se tujhko hai jaana
Dil ne kaha na maana
Sach to hai tu kahan main kahan Alisha

* – Not Clear